The double-lobed blazar 3C 371

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168220· OSTI ID:6904991

Wrobel, J M; Lind, K R ^[1]

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1. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Soccoro (USA) National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA (USA)

High dynamic range VLA imaging reveals, for the first time, that the blazar 3C 371 exhibits very low surface brightness twin radio lobes. These lobes straddle the dominant compact core and have a projected extent of about 42/h kpc. A weak component located in the western lobe shares the morphology, size, and inferred magnetic field configuration of radio source hot spots. A continuous wiggling jet connects this hot spot with the compact core. Double lobes, hot spots, and one-sided jets are traits of extended, edge-brightened radio sources. The discovery of corresponding components in 3C 371's extended emission suggests that this emission is an edge-brightened double, viewed at a large enough angle to the line of sight that the radio lobes do not overlap. A moderate viewing angle is consistent with 3C 371's low bolometric luminosity for a blazar. The diffuse radio halo that surrounds the twin lobes may be related to the fat bridges or bridge distortions shown by edge-brightened doubles with similar radio powers. 28 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6904991
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 348; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DOPPLER EFFECT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GALAXY NUCLEI
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MORPHOLOGY
PLASMA JETS
POLARIZATION
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION